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PATHS OF GLORY (1957)

  1. What was the original ending to the early drafts of the screenplay that Kubrick, Jim Thompson and Calder Willingham wrote?

    2. Based on his desire to make the film more commercial, and possibly on initial orders from the studio, Kubrick and his co-writers changed the ending from the novel to a happy one.

    Col. Dax blackmails General Broulard and gets the three soldiers’ death sentence commuted to 30 days in prison. Dax and Broulard then go off arm-in-arm to have a drink together.

    However, Kirk Douglas was unhappy with this new take on the story and eventually Kubrick agreed with him. The revised ending was never shot and the film ends on the same sad but powerful note as the book.

  2. How did Kirk Douglas get involved in the film?

    3. Douglas had formed his own production company, Bryna, in 1955, and was constantly searching for properties and new talent. He saw a screening of The Killing upon its release and was immediately impressed with Kubrick. At the same time, Kubrick and producer James B. Harris had made Douglas their first choice to play Col. Dax.

    Upon meeting with Kubrick and Harris, Douglas immediately expressed his enthusiasm for the project, but couldn’t accept the role due to an upcoming commitment to perform in a play. Luckily, the play wound up being delayed and Douglas was able to participate in the project, both as producer and star.

  3. Who plays the German girl singing near the end of the film?

    4. Kubrick hired a young actress named Christiane Harlan (going by the stage name Susanne Christian) after seeing her on a German TV show. Harlan became Mrs. Stanley Kubrick in 1958 and remained married to him until his death in 1999.

  4. Where does the title "Paths of Glory" come from?

    From a poem by Thomas Gray, entitled "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard." The line reads: "The paths of glory lead but to the grave."

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